The Wizards Are Historically Bad. Here's What I'd Do to Fix it.
Last season, when the Detroit Pistons were enduring a historic losing streak, Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma remarked that no one wants to “be that team” to lose to Detroit. While Detroit finished with the league’s worst record, Washington fared little better, tallying just 15 wins on the year.
Somehow, the Wizards have managed to regress even further this season. Sitting at a dismal 3-19, they’ve lost all but one game by double digits. The team is on pace to post one of the worst point differentials in NBA history and finish with an 11-71 record—good for the fourth-worst record of all time. To top it off, they recently wrapped up “No Win November,” a feat no franchise desires. Now, nobody wants to be the team to lose to Washington.
So, how did the Wizards get here?
The Downfall
This steep decline all started when the Wizards traded away John Wall, their franchise player. After a significant injury sidelined Wall for nearly two years, Washington dealt him to the Houston Rockets for Russell Westbrook. The Wizards attempted to pair the triple-double machine with Bradley Beal, their young star, but the experiment floundered. Westbrook was shipped out for Kyle Kuzma and the Wizards subsequently brought in Kristaps Porziņģis in an attempt to build a pseudo "Big Three."
Again, it just didn’t work. After another carousel of trades, the Wizards stand today with Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma as their leading duo. Sure, you have to give the Wizards credit for the efforts to bring stars to D.C., but it was very clear they were not making any real progress toward playoff contention.
Instead of treading water for years, the Wizards should’ve gone full rebuild mode when they traded John Wall. Bradley Beal still looked like he could be a great #2 option for a contending team, and they could’ve traded him away for very valuable draft capital. They compounded this mistake in 2022 by giving Bradley Beal a no-trade clause. Beal forced himself to Phoenix, limiting the value the Wizards could get for their star. With the picks they did get, nothing tells me the Wizards are going to use these picks well.
Poor Draft History
The Wizards’ inability to draft and develop talent exacerbates their struggles. Here’s a snapshot of their recent draft history:
2019 (9th pick): Rui Hachimura — a solid player but not deserving of a top-10 selection. Traded to the Lakers for minimal return.
2020 (9th pick): Deni Avdija — now a role player in Portland. Another middling result.
2021 (15th pick): Corey Kispert — a reliable shooter averaging 10.9 points per game but far from a game-changer.
2022 (10th pick): Johnny Davis — averaging under three points per game and bordering on bust territory.
2024 (2nd pick): Alex Sarr — a great defender but underwhelming offensively so far.
2024 (14th pick) Bub Carrington - an offensive sparkplug who looks promising.
The common denominator? Early first-round picks wasted on role players or outright busts. Their consistent misjudgment of draft picks, half-hearted rebuilds and “win-now” moves, and general lack of direction have them stuck in perpetual mediocrity and irrelevance.
How Do They Fix It?
The solution for Washington is straightforward: blow it up and commit to a full rebuild. Here’s what the Wizards should do:
Trade Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma: Neither player fits the mold of a locker room leader. Poole, in particular, looks disengaged and plays a selfish brand of basketball. The longer he plays in Washington, the worse his trade value is, and the more damage he does to the young guys. Get him out now. Kuzma, similarly, has little to offer a rebuilding roster.
Keep the Vets, Sarr, and Carrington: While they certainly don’t have amazing stats, guys like Malcolm Brogdon and Jonas Valančiūnas can provide stability and leadership as the Wizards head into a rebuild. Corey Kispert’s cheap contract and sharpshooting ability can also remain a solid asset. As for the rookies, Sarr and Carrington look like they could pan out as being very solid pros. Washington needs to prioritize their development to expedite the rebuild process. If even one of them becomes an All-Star, it would be a huge success.
Get the Top Pick By Any Means Necessary: The Wizards simply need a transformative talent like Cooper Flagg. If they don’t land the top pick in the draft lottery, I would do anything necessary to trade up. A player of his caliber could become the franchise cornerstone Washington desperately needs.
Hit the Free Agent Market: Going hard after talents like Cam Thomas, Johnathan Kuminga, or Myles Turner could bolster their young core and provide much-needed scoring. Even value signings like Bobby Portis might provide a veteran boost without hindering development. If they can make some progress in 2025, there are a plethora of names in 2026 free agency that could be interested in Washington’s positive direction.
The Wizards are a long way from competitiveness, and it will take years to undo the damage caused by years of mismanagement. However, the right moves now could spark a transformation. Teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Orlando Magic have shown that these rebuilds can succeed with patience, savvy drafting, and a commitment to player development. Until then, we can only watch one of the worst seasons in NBA history continue to unfold.
Is Will Dawkins part of the change or does he need to go, too? Presumably he was recruited to create OKC East?